Ball and socket joint



Oct. 4, 1955 [SAACS 2,719,742

BALL AND SOCKET JOINT Filed Nov. 19, 1951 JOHN D. ISAACS,

INVEN TOR.

HUE'BNE'R, BEEHLER, WORREL 8 HERZ/G, By ATTORNEYS- United States Patent BALL AND SOCKET JOINT John D. Isaacs, San Diego County, Calif., assignor to 'ghelfRegents of the University of California, Berkeley,

Application November 19, 1951, Serial No. 257,154 1 Claim. (Cl. 287-89) This invention relates to an easily applied but physically strong securement for cables, particularly tow cables for oceanographic and kindred uses, and which securement may be removed from the cable with equal facility. More particularly, the invention relates to a ball of low melting point alloy about a preferably steel cable in order that there may be secured to said balls, either directly or by auxiliary tow lines, various forms of underwater instruments having scientific or commercial utility. The invention also comprehends preferred means optionally integral with such underwater instrumentalities for securing the same on said balls while permitting desired substantially universal movement.

This invention is intended primarily for use on shipboard to reduce the amount of gear normally required in securing instruments and the like to a parent tow cable, either directly or through auxiliary tow lines.

It is moreover intended to simplify procedures and facilitate the pertinent work. It moreover envisions a remarkably advantageous, positive and economical securement for the intended purposes.

With these and other broad objectives in view, the invention has among its objects the provision of a new and improved ball-like casting for releasable securement to a preferably steel-woven cable, utilizing new and improved casting, securing and releasing devices whose provision is likewise within the objects of this invention.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of new and improved methods for securing and/or providing for the securement of one or a plurality of accurately spaced and securely positioned underwater instrumentalities.

In setting forth these objects, applicant does not intend to restrict himself to the field of oceanographic or limnological uses, nor even to commercial exploitation of fresh or salt water bodies, for it will be apparent that the instant invention has application wherever the range of temperature conditions permits its use. Its utility is particularly apparent, however, where the temperature of the surrounding medium is normally low enough to mitigate the danger of melting the sphere of alloy. Obviously, also, its utility would be impaired upon smooth wires, and would be enhanced upon woven or twisted cables.

It is also among the objects of this invention to provide improvements over the prior art devices and methods heretofore employed to accomplish generally similar purposes.

Other objects and purposes will appear and be more fully apparent from the following description considered in the light of the appended claim and the accompanying drawings in which like parts are designated by like reference numerals.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of a mode of use of the product comprehended by and resulting from the exercise of this invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged partially sectional view taken as on a line 2-2 of Figure 1.

I depending from a boat- 21,

2,719,742 Patentecl Oct. 4, 1955 Figure 3 is a perspective view of a telemetering cable having secured thereon, in spaced relationship, individual spheres of low melting point alloy made in accordance with this invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown by way' of example but not of limitation, a telemetering cable of a twisted but optionally woven type 20, from which it is towed, and having secured thereto an underwater kite or like device 22 for depressing the cable. Secured to the cable at spaced intervals thereon are any number of spheres 23 of low melting point alloy comprising stations of securement for any desired instrumentalities such as a flow meter or the like 24 intended to be towed by the cable 20.

Referring next to Figure 2, there is illustrated a flow meter or the like 24, selected merely by way of example, intended for towing by the cable 20, as aforesaid. Said device 24 includes a head portion 25, and a fin-forming tail 26. Therebetween the central body portion 27 comprises an elongate C-clamp or U-clamp of preferred strip steel, to which is secured, as by welding, opposed complementary plates 28 and 29 having parti-spherical concavities 30 and 31, respectively, adapted for the loose, i. e., rotatable, confinement of a sphere 23, depending upon the degree of tightening of a bolt 32 having a winglike head 33 thereon and threadedly secured in a nut 34 welded or otherwise secured to one arm 35 of the C- clamp 27.

Referring next to Figure 3, the telemetering cable 20 is shown with spheres 23 corresponding to the sphere 23 of Figure 2 just described, secured thereon in spaced relationship. An examination of Figure 2 with relation to the structure of Figure 3 will reveal that the device 24 may be secured on the cable 20 at any station corresponding to and by means of any selected ball or sphere 23.

The balls or spheres 23 may be provided on the cable 20 by casting them directly thereon from a low melting point alloy such as Cerro-Bond which can be melted in hot water or a pressure cooker.

The clamp of the character 27 may obviously be manufactured as a separate unit, and may be used for trailing an auxiliary cable to the trailing end of which any desired underwater instrumentality may be secured.

Although I have herein shown and described my invention in what I have conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of my invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claim so as to embrace any and all equivalent structures and methods.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A releasable securement to a woven steel cable for an underwater instrument comprising a U-shaped clamp of a resilient metal forming the central body portion of the instrument, said clamp comprising two arms joined together at one end and defining a mouth between their other ends, a complementary plate fixed to the inside wall of each arm of the clamp, the plates being positioned opposite each other and each provided with a concavity having a spherical curvature adapted to seat a sphere between the plates for frictional movement therebetween, a sphere of low melting metal having a radius of curvature substantially equal to'that of the concavities extending integrally around the cable in intimate locking contact therewith and seated in the concavities between the plates of the clamp for frictional movement therein while the cable passes through the plane of the clamp between the plates, the sphere having a melting point of about F., and nut and bolt means mounted across the between the surfaces of the sphere and the concavities.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Huse et a1 Sept. 29, 1885 Bragger July 5, 1898 Harris Apr. 23, 1901 Harris Jan. 7, 1902 Southwick Oct. 11, 1910 Thunen et a1. Oct. 18, 1910 4 Doxford Apr. 15, 1913 Matricardi May 6, 1913 Gregory et a1. Aug. 8, 1916 Akervick Jan. 12, 1932 Sherman Oct. 29, 1935 Bux Feb. 13, 1940 Bannerman et a1 Dec. 24, 1946 Schulze June 7, 1949 Brickman Oct. 11, 1949 McCoy Nov. 13, 1951 Ertel Feb. 12,1952 

